On 13/11/2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced its list of 50 prominent literary and performing arts works since reunification, which had included the renowned novel by author Bao Ninh.
On the morning of 9/1, according to a press release from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the ministry decided to remove the work from the published list. This decision followed a review of criteria, a re-evaluation of the selection process, and a respect for the author's wishes.
The press release further stated that two days prior, author Bao Ninh had sent a letter expressing his desire for the work to be removed from the list. Functional units of the ministry subsequently met, discussed, and listened to his opinions.
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The book "The Sorrow of War" published by Tre Publishing House. Photo: Cung doc sach |
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to refine its selection process for honoring works in culture, literature, and arts, particularly for large-scale activities with broad social impact. "This is to ensure scientific rigor, objectivity, and social consensus", the ministry stated.
'The Sorrow of War', released over 30 years ago, vividly portrays the profound pains of wartime. The novel has been translated into approximately 20 languages, with many languages having two versions, and has been published in dozens of countries.
The inclusion of the novel in the list of 50 outstanding post-reunification literary and artistic works in late 2025 sparked extensive debate regarding its value. This is not the first time Bao Ninh's book has stirred controversy in the literary world. The novel, originally written in 1987 and first published in 1990 under the title 'The Destiny of Love', immediately faced strong reactions from a segment of the public and literary circles. This occurred within a context where wartime literature was expected to reflect reality in service of ideological objectives. In 2016, author Bao Ninh was anticipated by the literary community and readers to win the State Prize, but this did not materialize.
Ha Thu
